Great day for Team GB in Berlin

BERLIN, Germany, March 2. AHEAD of British Nationals in Glasgow, Scotland in early April, TEAM GB’s swimmers continued to be in top form at the ISM in Berlin, Germany. All but one races of the final day of the meet were won by swimmers from Great Britain.

First one to set an astonishing mark was Adam Peaty. After already setting a new world’s best time and meet record in the 50m breaststroke yesterday, Peaty did the same today in the 100m breaststroke. He already set a new meet record in prelims in the morning, but his time of 59.90 in the final was not only the world’s best and a new meet record, it is also just the second time the minute-mark was cracked in 2014. Peaty finished the race ahead of British teammate Christopher Steeples who posted a 1:01.32 and Dawid Szulich from Poland who swam a 1:01.90.

Another meet record was cracked by Elizabeth Simmonds in the women’s 100m backstroke. German Jenny Mensing had already set a meet record and tenth fastest time of the year in prelims, but Simmonds beat that time in finals when she hit the wall at 1:00.81. Second in the race was Jessica Fullalove with 1:00.98, also under the meet record from the morning, and third was Mensing with a 1:01.28.

After setting a meet record on the previous day in the 100m backstroke, Chris Walker-Hebborn won the men’s 100m freestyle in 50.29 ahead of Daniel Briggs (50.46) and Kieran McGuckin (50.48). On the women’s side, the victory went to Siobhan O’Connor and Sweden’s Lousie Hansson who both swam to a 55.16. Third in the race was Rebecca Guy who posted a 55.59.

The men’s 50m backstroke was the only race of the day won by a non-British swimmer. Gytis Stankevicius from Lithuania who won in 26.27. The podium was however completed by Team GB when Jonathan Carlisle finished second in 26.44 and Rory Lamont hit the wall third with a 26.53.

The final race of the meet was again in British hands as the first five swimmers in the women’s 50m breaststroke came from Team GB. The winner was Kathryn Johnston with a time of 32.22 ahead of Corrie Scott and Andrea Strachan who became a tied second at 32.32.